Isla the Lurcher is now a much-loved member of our family but we're having a few problems and I'd be grateful for some help, please!
Like most Lurchers, she loves comfort and likes nothing better than getting on the sofa, which is fine in our house - our sofas are very dog-friendly!
However, when we go visiting it's not always appropriate for her to assume she can sit on other people's furniture! I struggle to get her off which is embarrassing.
Also, when she goes upstairs she likes to get on the beds - which again, is fine with us. It's just on the rare occasion when we don't want her to get on the bed she isn't at all happy about getting off.
If you tell her to get her off the bed, she refuses. If you try to touch her collar and make her get off she'll growl and pretend to bite you which I think is obviously totally out of order.
I just don't like the fact that no one in the family can grab her collar in an emergency without a tantrum. What should we do?
My reaction when she tries to bite is to shout loudly at her and then take her downstairs and shut the stair gate, but it doesn't seem to be working.
We've tried training her with treats to get off the sofa and bed but it doesn't seem to work as she's not that bothered about food and very often we don't have food to hand when we need to get her to do something.
Help!
Kevin Brockbank, Newbury
I'd train the dog to settle on a particular blanket - which can then be put on the bed or sofa. Then, when you visit friends, take the blanket and put it on the floor, so Isla rests there, rather than on the sofa. When training, practise the recall and touch her collar briefly every time she comes and then give her a treat. When she sits for a squeaky toy (this may work better than a treat, as she doesn't sound food-oriented), then touch her collar and then reward. Little and often, touch her collar to help desensitise her - so she realises it's a good thing, not a threatening gesture. The emergency grab is something that is taught at Puppy School - it's a godsend. It's a pity Isla's too old for Puppy School classes, but some training with a good behaviourist sounds vital. Oh, and stop shouting at her when she 'pretends' to bite - you're reinforcing any idea she has that you are threatening her! She could well up the stakes and respond by really biting next! I think it was Dunbar who said a dog can go on the sofa and bed - no problem - but as long as that's okay with you and that he or she will get off when asked. Personally, I'd stop her having the sofa and bed privileges until your relationship is on a better footing, and instead give her a cosy crate where there can be no dispute and to defuse any problem situations. A good behaviourist could sort this out quickly and nip any future problems in the bud, A worthwhile investment now, at the start of your relationship, I'd say. Claire Horton-Bussey
Agree with Claire that she should be allowed on the beds and furniture with your say so rather than when she says. With regard to the collar problem it may be helpful initially for you to attach a short 'lead' say something 6-8 inches long which you can get hold of instead of actually grabbing her collar. It seems that Isla has the upper hand in the house at the moment and she needs to learn to take her lead from you rather than leading the 'pack' NILIF (Nothing in Life is Free) is something you could try, easy to put into practice and its amazing how quickly the dog learns that you are in charge and that doesn't just include furniture. http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm
ReplyDeleteReally good advice above, the only thing I would add is by bribing your dog off the furniture with a treat, you are probably teaching her to go on the furniture and growl when she wants one! Better idea just to upend the sofa/mattress, she will probably hang on for grim life the first time, but gravity will eventually prevail, and you won't give her the opportunity to pretend to bite. This has worked for me with a large Golden Retriever dog with ideas above his station. Ann
ReplyDeleteI agree with Claire's training advice and also having a trailing line on Isla's collar but please do not get hung up on the 'pack' mentality. Isla is not 'leading' you. She is just doing what she has been allowed to do for so long. A NILIF programme is unlikely work because, quite simply, it does not address the specific problem. Getting Isla to sit before every meal or before putting her collar on and making her lay down before you start playing with her is not going to stop her jumping on the sofa or bed.
ReplyDeleteIsla's shows of aggression (growl and pretend snap) when someone tries to grab her collar suggests that she has now perceived the comfy sleeping spots as resources and is starting to guard them. If the aggressive tendencies on both sides continue, although slight at present, they are likely to escalate. So stop shouting and grabbing her and concentrate on training. You can also manage the situation by closing doors or putting obstacles on the furniture when you are out. If you want Isla on the sofa sometimes, then you can teach her to 'ask' to come up but she also needs to know a command to get down when told. Perhaps there is a member of the APDT (www.apdt.co.uk) in your area that could help you with this.
Barry Eaton Dip.CABT
Teaching a 'touch' (Isla has to touch her nose to your hand) will be a good start to teaching many commands where you want to move her from A to B.
ReplyDeleteStart teaching the touch in a neutral area, where no beds and sofas involved. That will help when you come to teach the 'get down'!
There are certain problems with dogs and using sofa and beds is one great problem. Useful information
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of bedroom problems and sofa issues. Useful post
ReplyDelete